Global Patent Index - EP 0713163 B1

EP 0713163 B1 19991006 - Protection circuit and method for power transistors, voltage regulator using the same

Title (en)

Protection circuit and method for power transistors, voltage regulator using the same

Title (de)

Schutzschaltung und Verfahren für Leistungstransistor sowie diese verwendender Spannungsregler

Title (fr)

Circuit et méthode de protection pour transistor de puissance, régulateur de tension l'utilisant

Publication

EP 0713163 B1 19991006 (EN)

Application

EP 94830535 A 19941117

Priority

EP 94830535 A 19941117

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0713163A1] The purpose of the present invention is to supply a method and a circuit simple and accurate enough to protect at least one transistor against exceeding a complex limit implying processing of multiple electrical quantities associated with said transistor. Since in many practical cases said complex limit corresponds to the product of at least two quantities, typically a current and a voltage, the circuit in accordance with the present invention generates electrical signals basically proportional to said quantities, multiplies them, compares the product with a reference signal corresponding to the limit placed on the transistor and acts on the transistor in such a way that said limit is not exceeded. Advantageously the multiplication of currents can be provided simply by means of connection in series of bipolar transistor junctions at which said currents are supplied to the respective emitters. In this case it is additionally advantageous to generate the reference signal by means of connection in series of the bipolar transistor junctions in such a manner as to have an analogous behaviour of the multiplier and the generator. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

G05F 1/573; H02H 9/02

IPC 8 full level

H01L 27/04 (2006.01); G05F 1/573 (2006.01); H01L 21/822 (2006.01); H01L 29/78 (2006.01); H02H 7/00 (2006.01); H03K 17/08 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

G05F 1/573 (2013.01 - EP US)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE FR GB IT

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0713163 A1 19960522; EP 0713163 B1 19991006; DE 69421083 D1 19991111; DE 69421083 T2 20000316; JP H08279737 A 19961022; US 5789971 A 19980804

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 94830535 A 19941117; DE 69421083 T 19941117; JP 29860695 A 19951116; US 56000195 A 19951117